External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, when speaking in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, stressed India’s readiness to be a friendly neighbour to Pakistan like its other neighbours but was clear that the relationship cannot be one that is based on terrorism. Speaking in the Parliament in response to a question raised in the Question Hour, he commented: “But the ball is very much in Pakistan’s court. They have to show that they changed from a previous behaviour that was not conducive to the current evolution. If they fail to do so, there will of course, be implications for the relationship and for Pakistan itself.”
About the measures to improve trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan, Jaishankar recalled that most of the disruptions in bilateral trade took place due to Pakistan’s unilateral actions in 2019. He said, “India takes a neutral stance on this issue. Any progress in the system will be achieved only when Pakistan undertakes some form of action.”
It also elaborated on other international issues for MPs. Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi asked questions about Nepal circulating Indian territories on its currency, measures for countering the drug menace from Myanmar, and India’s commitment of $10 billion to the development of Bangladesh.
In his address to Nepal, Jaishankar was very clear on the issue of borders, suggesting, “Any neighbor who thinks that such tactics will change India’s geography, are wrong”.
Regarding drug trafficking from Myanmar, Jaishankar admitted that owing to the volatile situation in Myanmar, India could no longer maintain the policy of open borders as it has always done before. But he said the government is fully aware of the situation affecting the people in the border regions, and something is being done to address the problem.
Speaking about relations with Bangladesh, Jaishankar mentioned great outcomes of large-scale developmental projects in accordance with the “Neighborhood First” concept. He further assured a positive and healthy bilateral relationship between both nations after the new government in Bangladesh and India’s aim to act as a regional power.
In his statements, Jaishankar re-emphasised India’s stable and proven foreign policy platform, which supports multilateralism, peace, and cooperation, besides defending the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
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